Cambridge University Women’s Association Football Club (CUWAFC) continued their undefeated Midlands 2B League season on Wednesday afternoon by putting in a dominant display over the University of Bedfordshire to secure their second consecutive 3–0 victory. 

In a high-octane and extremely physical game, which saw a number of the Light Blues players forced off the field with a wide array of injuries, CUAWFC were forced to work hard to break the deadlock. Yet their quality and determination won through. They created plenty of chances and never looked like missing out on the three points. 

Indeed, within the opening moments, the Light Blues were threatening the home side's goal as Daisy Luff broke through the defence, but the Fitzwilliam striker was unable to capitalise. The early scare shocked Bedfordshire into the game, and the match became a more even affair, with both sides struggling for cohesion thanks to a hard and bouncy pitch.

Yet CUWAFC remained on the front foot, with Ceylon Hickman, Becca Hirst and skipper Gerda Bachrati unfortunate to see attempts from freekicks – won by Luff and Zoe Cohen, who took bruises in the process – in dangerous-looking positions agonisingly skim the woodwork on the wrong side of the net. But the goal would just not quite come for the Light Blues: Hirst was denied again moments later as an incorrect offside call foiled what would otherwise have been a beautifully taken solo goal. 

With the half-time interval closing in, it looked like CUWAFC would go into the break without having capitalised on their pressure. Luff, though, had other ideas and took the game by the scruff of the neck: pouncing on the poor touch of a Bedfordshire defender, some fine skill and a sharp turn of pace saw her drive through the centre of the pitch and round the goalkeeper to break the deadlock. 

Goals, like all good things, often come in pairs. And so it was to be for the Light Blues: not even a full minute later, winger Liz Ashcroft, assisted by more excellent work from Luff, drilled in one of her patented arcing shots from outside the area which arrowed past the goalkeeper to take the scoreboard to 2–0 at the interval.

Dominant CUWAFC stride past DMU

Stunned by conceding two goals in quick succession just before the whistle, the home side rallied and forced Light Blues’ goalkeeper, Zoe Woodward, in just her third appearance between the sticks, into two terrific saves within the opening moments of the second half. 

But CUAWFC were soon to get the measure of a reinvigorated and increasingly physical Bedfordshire side and began to contain their opponents. Regaining control of the match, they continued to keep the home side under relentless pressure in the centre of the field. And their dominance was soon rewarded, as Katy Edwards turned on the afterburners to latch onto the end of a hopeful-looking long ball down the right channel and whip in a dangerous cross into the Bedfordshire box onto the head of the lurking Luff, who dispatched the ball into the net with aplomb. 

With the result settled at 3–0, the away side relaxed and began to enjoy some possession football to try and protect their well-earned clean sheet. Yet their threat always lingered: long-range efforts from Hirst tested the Bedfordshire keeper and substitute Henny Horsler, fresh from having scored her debut CUWAFC goal last week against De Montfort University, was unfortunate not to add to her tally.

As the final whistle blew, the Light Blues’ celebrations were jubilant. Yet another comfortable victory was confirmed for the away side, taking them to the top of the Midlands 2B League table with a 100 per cent record. Indeed, speaking to Varsity after the match, CUWAFC’s skipper Gerda Bachrati expressed her delight at her team’s form.

In particular, she was keen to praise her side’s ability to adapt to new hurdles, noting that it was “a challenging game today for the Light Blues due to the dismal quality of the pitch, which took some getting used to in the first half of the game. However with some confidence-boosting goals late in the first half, we managed to ultimately show our dominance and style of play and keep up our winning streak.”

CUWAFC: Woodward, Malley, Gradin, Brown, Bachrati (c), Edwards, Hickman, Cohen, Ashcroft, Hirst, Luff

Substitutes: Conlon, Horsler, Geiger